On the run —

john.mcafee.win32 being removed from quarantine soon

Hopes to find refuge in the US to avoid Belize murder inquiry.

A judge in Guatemala has ordered the release of John McAfee, who will seek refuge in the US to avoid a murder inquiry in Belize, according to his lawyer.

The Associated Press reported the comments of McAfee lawyer Telesforo Guerra, who "said the judge notified him verbally of the ruling, but added that it might take a day for formal written notification to win McAfee's release, possibly as soon as Wednesday... Guerra said Secaida ruled that McAfee's detention was illegal, ordered him released, and gave him 10 days to put his immigration situation in order."

Guerra said McAfee will try to return to the US, saying, "that's definitely the country where he will be safest." McAfee's blog said, "John will be released from detention at 9:00am, Guatemala Time [10:00am ET], from the Immigration detention center in Guatemals City. He has not divulged his plans."

McAfee, who founded the McAfee security company but is no longer associated with the firm, was named a person of interest in relation to a murder in Belize last month. McAfee is not considered a prime suspect in the case, but he has said he fears for his safety should he end up being detained in Belize. He fled the country, but was arrested in Guatemala last week for entering the country illegally. Guatemalan authorities initially said they would deport McAfee to Belize.

Good enough to head for when he feels like he needs protection, not good enough to live in when it's time to pay some taxes.

I thought the reason he fled across the border was that his last hairbrained idea (flying small planes really close to the ground for fun) had resulted in a few people dieing in crashes and their families were trying to sue him. He ran abroad and took his money with him so they didn't have any assets of his to go after.

Unless he revoked his US citizenship; he's still required to pay federal income tax even if living abroad.

Unless he revoked his US citizenship; he's still required to pay federal income tax even if living abroad.

Unless there's an income tax treaty to prevent double taxation... which I doubt there would be with Belize.

AFAIK there's a line on the 1040 form (an additional form?) where you can claim a 100% credit on foreign tax; so Americans living abroad in most of the first world don't end up paying any US income tax. The requirement to file tax returns itself remains.

I thought the reason he fled across the border was that his last hairbrained idea (flying small planes really close to the ground for fun) had resulted in a few people dieing in crashes and their families were trying to sue him. He ran abroad and took his money with him so they didn't have any assets of his to go after.

As far as I can tell, he's pretty much blown through most of his assets, so facing civil suits in the US is much more appealing than potentially sitting in a Belize prison for murder.

I thought the reason he fled across the border was that his last hairbrained idea (flying small planes really close to the ground for fun) had resulted in a few people dieing in crashes and their families were trying to sue him. He ran abroad and took his money with him so they didn't have any assets of his to go after.

As far as I can tell, he's pretty much blown through most of his assets, so facing civil suits in the US is much more appealing than potentially sitting in a Belize prison for murder.

If, by "blown", you mean transferred into the names of others whether corporate shelters or whatever then yeah, probably. It's pretty hard to "blow" a fortune of that size where he was. I mean, you could probably do it but it's really hard. Stuff is cheaper in Belize than most folks realize.

Headline is amusing. I wish the author had put half as much time into writing / researching this "article" as he did on the headline.

I used to comment on news stories to ask questions, participate in discussion and otherwise be engaged with the content. Lately though, I only log in to express my disappointment.

Where is the back story on his association with the neighbor? Where is the information on why the Belizeans are looking for him? What about the charges of corruption? The connection to requested political donations? Where is McAfee's perspective?

Headline is amusing. I wish the author had put half as much time into writing / researching this "article" as he did on the headline.

I used to comment on news stories to ask questions, participate in discussion and otherwise be engaged with the content. Lately though, I only log in to express my disappointment.

Where is the back story on his association with the neighbor? Where is the information on why the Belizeans are looking for him? What about the charges of corruption? The connection to requested political donations? Where is McAfee's perspective?

I feel like I just read a fluff AP bulletin.

Considering that this story was covered a few time by Ars, as well as by myriad other outlets, there are many resources to find the information that you're looking for. I suggest following your nose (or the links in this case):

You don't honestly expect every story to be a complete breakdown and re-hash of everything that has been discussed to that point, do you? If so, I submit that maybe the internet is not an appropriate source of information for you.

"Guatemalan authorities initially said they would export McAfee to Belize." Isn't "deport" the word normally used?

Actually, I believe the word you are looking for is "extradite."

I hadn't heard that Belize had officially asked for him to be turned over to them. I guess the practical difference between deporting him to Belize and extraditing him to Belize is the formality of the handoff to the waiting Belize police.

But it looks like they are giving him a chance to return to the US instead, so they are either deporting or repatriating him, I'm not sure which is more appropriate.

So McAfee first flees the USA for Belize for its tax advantages while ever it benefits him, then when he gets in trouble with the law there, complains about the standards of policing and prison accommodation in the country with no taxation, and flees back to the USA to take advantage of its protections... Hmmm... I can't help but think there's a certain irony about this!

Headline is amusing. I wish the author had put half as much time into writing / researching this "article" as he did on the headline.

I used to comment on news stories to ask questions, participate in discussion and otherwise be engaged with the content. Lately though, I only log in to express my disappointment.

Where is the back story on his association with the neighbor? Where is the information on why the Belizeans are looking for him? What about the charges of corruption? The connection to requested political donations? Where is McAfee's perspective?

I feel like I just read a fluff AP bulletin.

It's a brief, an article where we do little or no original reporting and link back to a primary source. So if you click on a story in the middle column, you'll be getting a brief.